Forty-Three
Jasper
Iplay with her long, wavy locks while lounging on the sofa with a mug of black coffee in hand. Because it was so chilly outside, she insisted on brewing coffee for us as soon as we entered her apartment—of course, she filled hers with every creamer imaginable. Truman greeted us, brushing the entirety of his stout body against my leg. I bet down to pet him, earning a soft purr. I’ve always been more of a dog person than a cat person, but Truman has grown on me. I love that little troublemaker.
I stop messing with her hair and toss my arm around her shoulders, tucking her closely into my side. She leans her head against me and rests her tired eyes. She has had a long night,but it’s far from over. While counting her freckles, Kai clears his throat.
“Jasper, every moment counts—I need to tell you something. Both of you.” Kai plops down on the floor. Truman wastes no time in rushing to his side to say hello. As Kai strokes him, Truman leans into his touch.
“Greene, Kai would like to share something with us,” I whisper into her ear. She gazes back at me with heat in her eyes. Damn, it’s been too long.
Kai, can it wait?
“Nope, let’s talk now. There will be plenty of time for you two to do… whatever it is you do… after this.” Kai cringes, folding his arms.
“You ready?” She nods, looking directly in Kai’s direction.
“So, why can Jasper see you when I can’t?” she boldly asks.
“Alright, Jasper. I need you to listen closely and reiterate all of this information the best you can to Irie.” I nod, urging him to continue. I haven’t got the slightest clue why I can see Kai, so I’m just as intrigued to know as Iris is. “Do you remember the Middle Realm? Well, I visited that realm recently to see if I could gather more information from the Archives on why you can see me when other mortals can’t. I meandered into the Archives with the help from another angel. After she walked out of the area, I began sorting through records. Eventually, I came across a basket of scrolls containing information on cases in history in which this occurred. One in particular struck me.”
Kai bobs his throat and swallows. “A deceased woman named Jenna chose to be a guardian angel for a man in his 30’s who was riddled with crippling depression in New York back in the 90’s. He resorted to drowning himself in alcohol to block out his emptiness and nearly got lost in his addiction before she came along. She spent months with him, helping him to heal. He was making great progress. One day, they took the subway together.While on the subway, she noticed someone staring at her—it wasn’t uncommon for angels to run into each other while in a city as large as NYC—nothing like the Cove. Jenna assumed the woman was an angel, so she smiled. Upon closer look though, Jenna realized the woman was not an angel at all. Stunned, she teleported out of the subway to the surface for a moment to get fresh air. She chose to wait for her guarded at his stop, feeling he would be safe on the subway—I guess the subway was safer back then than it is now or something.
“Twenty minutes later, the man exited the subway. She approached and noticed him laughing for the first time in months. Once she got closer, she recognized the same woman on the train walking in step with him. Stunned yet again, Jenna crouched behind a pillar and waited for them to pass, choosing to follow behind them at a distance. She was positive the woman had seen her, so when the woman and her guarded started dating, she felt skeptical and kept her distance as much as possible. But as time went on, her guarded became lighter and lighter. She even became friends with the woman. On their wedding day, Jenna’s time with her assignment was up. She recorded all her findings, hoping one day someone would be able to explain the phenomenon.
“So, considering you are able to see me without my help, I took it up with the Archangels myself after learning about Jenna. They weren’t pleased I was seeking out such confidential information, but I played it off. I acted like I was just researching out of mere curiosity. I’m sure they bought it. Anyway, I asked them why a mortal would be able to see a guardian angel when other mortals can't, and you’ll never guess the answer.” Kai's hazel eyes lock with mine. “Now that you believe in angels, hopefully, it’ll be easier for your skeptical ass to believe this too. Soulmates are real. Most people aren’t lucky enough to find theirsoulmate in their lifetime, so they unite with them in the afterlife instead.
"However, there is no doubt here. You and Irie are soulmates—bound to find each other in every lifetime at every cost. Considering this occurrence is extremely rare, there isn’t a ton of research on it, but the reason you can see me when no one else can is because of how strong your bond is. You’re in tune with her—in mind, body, and soul.”
Soulmates.I am in tune with Iris—in mind, body, and soul. I nearly drop my cup of coffee as goosebumps spread across every inch of my body. I quickly set it down on the coffee table to avoid it from spilling as my mind spins in every direction.
She turns toward me with concern in her eyes. “What? What is it? What did he share?”
Right. She can’t even hear him, so it’s up to me.
“Kai says the reason I can see you is because—”
“Um, Jasper? Hello? Are you not going to share any of the background details I sograciouslyrisked everything to gather for you?” Kai glares at me. I let out a sigh.
“Well, Kai said he did some research and found evidence of this happening another time a few decades ago, and in that case, it was because the person who could see the angel was actually the guarded’s… soulmate,” I say. “Soulmates are real. Kai believes we are soulmates, bound to find each other in every lifetime at all costs.”
I let that information sink in as I hold her in my grasp, breathing slowly. Finally, she asks, “Well, what do you believe?”
“I could ask you the same question.” The corner of my lips tugs upward into a smile.
“I don’t know, Jasper. Would it be crazy if I felt like this explanation actually makes sense?”
“Yes, absolutely crazy,” I say, watching her nose crinkle. “First, we learn that angels exist, and now, we learn that soulmatesdo, too? I’m not buying it. What will it be next? Demons? Warlocks?”
Silence hums between us. “Oh… so you don’t believe we could be soulmates?”
I rest my head in the crook of her neck, letting my lips brush against her ear. Then, I whisper, with the intent of my quiet words reaching her heart. “The moment I watched you waltz into that coffee shop like you owned the place, I knew I was in trouble. I've felt inexplicably drawn to you since that very first moment before I ever even knew your name. Every time I’ve seen you since then, I’ve felt the pull grow stronger and stronger.You’rethe reason I believe in soulmates, Greene.”
Her breath hitches, then she turns to gaze directly into my eyes. I peer into her green irises, allowing them to unravel me. “You’re mine,” she declares, wrapping her arms around my neck.
I lift her chin to steal a kiss. Our lips join together for a perfect moment of serenity. Then, yet again, we are interrupted by her pesky brother clearing his throat.
“Well, I’ll see myself out, I guess.” He stands up, placing his hands on his hips. “Be safe, kids.” He waves a finger at me sternly. I throw a couch pillow at him irritably. He chuckles maniacally and shows himself out. “I’ll see you both tomorrow. Keep her safe tonight, Jasper.”
